Phil SumblerOn an emotionally charged night in Cardiff Gareth Bale proved that he is the big name player for the big occasion with two more goals for his country to move us to within ninety minutes of that elusive World Cup final berth.
A goal in either half was just what the nation wanted and Bale delivered – as he has done so often in the past – with Wales passing up opportunities to extend that lead before an unfortunate deflection of Ben Davies made for a somewhat nervy close to the game.
It is not just a home game against either Scotland or Ukraine that stands between Wales and that first World Cup finals appearance since 1958 and with the backing of one of the most vocal and passionate international supports in Europe who would seriously bet against us delivering that for the nation in June?
Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner hit the crossbar in the fifth minute before Bale’s majestic free-kick sparked ecstatic celebrations for an already thunderous home crowd in Cardiff.
Wales’ captain struck again early in the second half, shooting beautifully on the turn from a short corner.
Bale’s performance was all the more remarkable when you consider he has only scraped around two hours of football for his club Madrid in the past six months but it was a performance to silence his critics as the Welsh captain explained afterwards.
I don’t need to send a message,” he told Sky Sports. “I don’t need to say anything, it’s a waste of my time.”
But he did then add: “It’s disgusting. They should be ashamed of themselves. I am not fussed, end of.
“I can hit a free-kick if I am able to play. It was nice to see it go in.”
Robert Page now stands, as Wales manager, as the man who can deliver the nation something we have failed to achieve for more than a generation and earn his place in Welsh footballing folklore for ever.
I don’t think it’s sunk in properly yet. What a game, what a night, what an occasion,” Page told the BBC after the game.
“The star man turns up – I have just said to him that’s the best free-kick I have ever seen in my life.
“He hasn’t played many minutes but at least he has been training day in, day out. Did we anticipate he would play 90 minutes? Probably not.
The situation in Ukraine has meant a postponement to their semi final which was due to be played at Hampden Park last night and is now expected to be played in June with the winners facing Wales in Cardiff that same month.
For now, thanks to Gareth Bale and other heroes in red, the dream remains very much alive.
Special night! Letโs goooo ๐ฅ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ pic.twitter.com/Qb8xV826yT
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) March 25, 2022
